Get help now
If you or a veteran you know is struggling, you are not alone. Help is one call or text away.
Veterans Crisis Line
Call or text the Veterans Crisis Line: Dial 988, then press 1, or text 838255.
It's free, confidential and open 24/7. Family and friends can call too. In an emergency, call 911. Rocky Top Veterans Foundation is not a crisis service; we connect veterans to the people who are.
Other places to turn
- Emergency: call 911.
- VA benefits and health care: VA.gov (opens in a new tab) or 1-800-698-2411.
- Vet Centers offer free, confidential counseling for veterans and their families: find a Vet Center (opens in a new tab).
- Local services like food, housing and utilities: dial 211 or visit 211 Tennessee (opens in a new tab).
- Benefits paperwork: a Veterans Service Officer can help you file at no cost. Call us and we'll point you to one near you.
How we can help
We're volunteers, not a crisis service. What we can do is listen, help you find the right people, and make sure you have a place to belong. In our founder's words: "It just depends on the need… We don't give them money. We just assist them."
Call Chris at (865) 659-1001 or Taryn at (865) 659-0350, or come to a Rally Point and meet veterans who live near you.
Want to learn how to help someone else?
Our free QPR training teaches anyone to recognize the warning signs of suicide and connect a person to help. Learn about FIRE-TEAM Tennessee.
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Questions people ask
Is the Veterans Crisis Line only for veterans?
No. Veterans, service members, National Guard and Reserve members, and the family and friends who are worried about them can all call, text or chat. You don't have to be enrolled in VA benefits or health care.
What does Rocky Top Veterans Foundation do for a veteran who needs help?
We listen, then connect the veteran to the right people: Veterans Service Officers for benefits, the Vet Center, the VA and local resources. We don't give cash or provide counseling. Call (865) 659-1001.